Remotely Controlled, Impact-Resistant Model Helicopter

ABSTRACT

A remotely-controlled impact-resistant model helicopter (RIMH) that is comprised of two major elements: a helicopter and a remote control unit. The helicopter includes a housing that encloses a first electronic control circuit that controls the operation of a receiver circuit connected to a receiving antenna, a main rotor blade motor, a tail rotor motor, an LED light circuit and a power source. The RIMH includes a coaxial main rotor assembly that includes a lower main rotor blade, an upper main rotor blade and a rotor blade stabilizer. Attached to the housing is a tail boom assembly that has attached the tail rotor motor that operates a rear rotor blade, and that has attached a horizontal stabilizer and a vertical stabilizer. The helicopter is controlled and remotely operated by a hand-held remote control unit that includes a second electronic control circuit that controls the application of various aerial maneuvers that are transmitted to the helicopter.

This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/728,761 filed on Nov. 20, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally pertains to remotely controlled model toys, and more particularly to a remotely controlled, impact-resistant model helicopter.

BACKGROUND ART

There are many individuals, young and old, who enjoy operating remote-controlled vehicles. As there are many types of individuals, there are also many types of vehicles including land vehicles such as cars and trucks, water vehicles such as boats, and airborne vehicles such as helicopters and airplanes. Remote-controlled airplanes typically require a significant amount of space and open air in which to fly. Remote-controlled helicopters typically require less space since they utilize vertical lift-off and landing, and they can even be used indoors, as long as there is a minimal amount of room for them to maneuver.

One of the major drawbacks of remote-controlled helicopters is that they require a certain level of skill to operate. This skill can only be acquired from extended periods of practicing the actual flying. Unfortunately, most new remote helicopter pilots experience numerous crashes while learning to operate them. The crashes can vary from minor, with little to no damage done to the helicopter, to major, with significant damage. Regardless of the amount, repeated damage can be disheartening as well as expensive and time-consuming to repair. That is why some individuals simply give up on trying to learn to fly a remote-controlled helicopter.

What is needed is a remote-controlled helicopter that could experience a crash and remain damage-free. By providing a helicopter that is impact-resistant, an individual would be able to quickly become proficient in flying the helicopter and would not having to endure the delays and expense of repairing the helicopter after every inevitable crash.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The remotely-controlled impact-resistant model helicopter (RIMH) is designed to perform various aerial maneuvers that are controlled by a hand-held remote control unit.

In its basic design configuration, the RIMH is comprised of:

-   -   A. A housing having a front opening and an integrally attached         upper section having a main rotor shaft bore, a rear section, a         lower section, a right side section and a left side section.     -   B. A coaxial main rotor blade assembly having a main rotor blade         shaft that is attached to the shaft of a main rotor blade motor         located within the housing. Sequentially attached to the main         rotor blade shaft is a lower main blade, an upper main blade and         a rotor blade stabilizer.     -   C. A tail boom assembly having a front end attached to the rear         section of the housing and a rear end having attached a tail         rotor motor having a shaft to which is attached a horizontally         oriented rear rotor blade. The tail boom assembly also has         attached a horizontal stabilizer, and a vertical stabilizer.     -   D. A pair of landing skids, each attached to the lower section         of the housing,     -   E. A first electronic control circuit located within the housing         and having means for controlling the operation of the RIMH, and     -   F. A remote control unit having a second electronic control         circuit having means for allowing an individual to remotely         control the operation of said RIMH.

The RIMH is further comprised of a plurality of air vents located on the upper section, the right side section and the left side section of the housing and an impact-resistant front shield that is attached around the front opening of the housing. The shield is aerodynamically shaped and simulates a pilot's canopy.

In conclusion, the RIMH is a significant improvement cover conventional remote-controlled model helicopters. The impact resistance allows a person to learn and enjoy flying the RIMH without experiencing the frustration, spend time and expense of having to repair a model helicopter after an inevitable crash,

In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a remotely-controlled impact resistant model helicopter that is remotely operated by means of a hand-held remote control unit.

In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to produce an invention that:

-   -   requires minimal maintenance,     -   is easy to learn how to operate the RIMH,     -   simulates an actual helicopter,     -   can be detailed in various color schemes,     -   can be used more frequently, and for extended periods of time,         as a result of its ability to withstand repeated crashes,     -   is cost effective from both a manufacture's and consumer's point         of view.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the remotely controlled, impact-resistant model helicopter.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the helicopter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the remote control unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of the remotely controlled, impact-resistant model helicopter.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the major elements that comprise the remotely controlled impact-resistant model helicopter.

FIG. 6 is a perspective right side view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective left side view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a perspective front side view thereof.

FIG. 11 is a perspective rear side view thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a remotely-controlled impact-resistant model helicopter (RIMH) 10. The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-11, is comprised of two major elements: a helicopter 11 and a remote control unit 106 that controls the operation of the helicopter 11.

The helicopter 11, as shown in block form in FIGS. 1 and 2, intact in FIGS. 4 and 6-11, and in an exploded view in FIG. 5, is comprised of the following major element: a housing 12, a main rotor blade motor 38, a coaxial main rotor blade assembly 40, a tail boom assembly 56, a pair of landing skids 82, a first electronic control circuit 90, and an impact-resistant front shield 102.

The housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is comprised of an upper section 14 having a main rotor shaft bore 16, a front opening 18 having a lower edge 20 from where extends outward a platform 22 that terminates at a front edge 24, and a rear section 26 having a tail boom bore 28 that includes a bushing 110. The housing 12 also includes a lower section 30, a right side section 32 and a left side section 34. The upper section 14, the right side section 32 and the left side section 34 further have a plurality of air vents 108, as shown in FIG. 5. Additionally, attached to the lower section 30 of the housing 12 is the main rotor blade motor 38. When attached, the shaft of the motor 38 is in alignment with the main rotor shaft bore 16 located on the upper section 14.

The coaxial main rotor blade assembly 40 is comprised of a main rotor shaft 42 having an upper end 44, and a lower end 46 that is rotatably inserted into the main rotor shaft bore 16 located on the upper section 14. The shaft 42 has sequentially attached a first lower main blade 48, an upper main blade 50 and a rotor blade stabilizer 52 that is attached to the upper end 44 of the main rotor shaft 42. The lower end of the main rotor shaft 42 is attached to the shaft of the main rotor blade motor 38.

The coaxial main rotor blade assembly 40 is further designed to include a lower blade hub 118 having an upper section 120, a lower section 122, a centered main rotor shaft bore 114, a first end 126, a second end 128 and means 130 for fixedly attaching the lower blade hub 118 to the main rotor shaft 42. A first blade 134 having an outer end 136 and an inner end 138 is rotatably attached between the upper section 120 and the lower section 122 of the first end 126 of the lower blade hub 118. A second lower blade 142 having an outer end 144 and an inner end 146 is rotatably attached between the upper section 120 and the lower section 122 of the second end 128 of the lower blade hub 118.

The upper blade hub 148 also has an upper section 150, a lower section 152, a centered main rotor shaft bore 154, a first end 156, a second end 158 and means 160 for fixedly attaching the upper blade hub 148 to the main rotor shaft 42.

A first upper blade 16 having an outer end 16 and an inner end 166 is rotatably attached between the upper section 150 and the lower section 152 of the first end 156 of the upper blade hub. The second upper blade 128 has an outer end 170 and an inner end 172 that is rotatably attached between the upper section 150 and the lower section 152 of the second end 158 of the upper blade hub 148.

The tail boom assembly 56, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is comprised of a front end 58 that is inserted into the tail boom bore 28 and the bushing 110 located on the rear section 26 of the housing 12, a rear end 60, an upper surface 62, a lower surface 64 and sides 66. Along the sides is located an LED light circuit 68 that is comprised of a plurality of LEDs connected in a parallel-series configuration. The light circuit 68 also includes an LED that is located on the front shield 102.

The tail boom assembly 56 also has a horizontal stabilizer 70 attached to the upper surface 62, a vertical stabilizer 72 attached to one of the sides 66, and a tail rotor motor 74 that is attached to the rear end 60 of the boom 56. The motor 74 has a shaft 76 to which is attached a horizontally oriented rear rotor blade 78. The tail boom assembly 56 also includes a pair of tail boom struts 112 each having a front end 114 and a rear end 116. The front end 114 is attached to the lower section 30 of the housing 12 and the rear end 116 is attached to the respective sides 66 adjacent the horizontal stabilizer 70.

The pair of landing skids 82, as shown in FIG. 6, each have a front end 84 and a rear end 86. Each of the skids 82 is attached by a pair of strut 88 to the lower section 30 of the housing 12. To the front end 84 and the rear end 86 of the skids 82 can be inserted a resilient damper 176 that cushions the landing of the helicopter 11.

The first electronic control circuit 90, as shown in FIG. 2, is located on the front opening platform 22 and within the front opening 18 of the housing 12. The circuit 90 has means for controlling the operation of a receiver circuit 92, the main rotor blade motor 94, the tail rotor blade motor 96 and the LED light circuit 98. The receiver circuit 92 operates at a frequency of 27.115 Mhz. A receiving antenna 93 is attached to one of the struts 88 attached to the landing skids 82. The circuit 90 includes a power source 36 that is comprised of a battery having an output ranging from 3 to 5 volts d-c. The power source 16 is controlled by an on-off switch 37 that is located on one of the side sections 32,34 of the housing 12.

The impact-resistant front shield 102, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is made of a resilient plastic and is designed to simulate a pilot's canopy 104. The shield 102 is attached to the front opening 18 and the right and left side sections 32,34 of the housing 12 and is dimensioned to cover and protect the elements controlled by the first electronic control circuit 90.

The final element that comprises the RIMH 10 is the remote control unit 106, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The unit 106 includes a second electronic control unit 107 that controls the transmitted outputs provided by a transmitter 192 via an antenna 193. The transmitter outputs include direction 180, throttle 182, lights 184 and trim 186. The unit 106 is also connected to a power source 188 that is controlled by a power switch 190.

While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims. 

1. A remotely-controlled impact-resistant model helicopter (RIMH) comprising: a) a housing having a front opening and an integrally attached upper section having a main rotor shaft bore, a rear section, a lower section, a right side section and a left side section, b) a coaxial main rotor blade assembly having a main rotor blade shaft that is attached to the shaft of a main rotor blade motor located within said housing, wherein sequentially attached to the main rotor blade shaft is a lower main blade, an upper main blade and a rotor blade stabilizer, c) a tail boom assembly having a front end attached to the rear section of said housing and a rear end having attached a tail rotor motor having a shaft to which is attached a horizontally oriented rear rotor blade, d) a pair of landing skids, each attached to the lower section of said housing, e) a first electronic control circuit located within said housing and having means for controlling the operation of said RIMH, and f) a remote control unit having a second electronic control circuit having means for allowing an individual to remotely control the operation of said RIMH.
 2. The RIMH as specified in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of air vents located on the upper section, the right side section and the left side section of said housing.
 3. The RIMH as specified in claim 1 further comprising an impact-resistant front shield that is attached around the front opening of said housing.
 4. The RIMH as specified in claim 3 wherein said front shield is aerodynamically shaped and simulates a pilot's canopy.
 5. The RIMH as specified in claim 1 wherein said tail boom further comprises: a) a pair of tail boom struts each having a front end attached to the lower section of said housing, b) a horizontal stabilizer, and c) a vertical stabilizer
 6. A remotely-controlled, impact-resistant model helicopter (RIMH) comprising: A. said helicopter comprising: a) a housing comprising: (1) an upper section having a main rotor shaft bore, (2) a front opening having a lower edge from where extends outward a platform that terminates at a front edge, (3) a rear section having a tail boom bore that includes a bushing, (4) a lower section, (5) a right side section, and (6) a left side section, b) a main rotor blade motor attached to the lower section of said housing, wherein the shaft of the main rotor blade motor is in alignment with the main rotor shaft bore located on the upper section, c) a coaxial main rotor blade assembly comprised of a main rotor shaft having an upper end, and a lower end that is rotatably inserted into the main rotor shaft bore located on the upper section, wherein the shaft has sequentially attached a lower main blade, an upper main blade and a rotor blade stabilizer attached to the upper end of the main rotor shaft, wherein the lower end of the main rotor shaft is attached to the shaft of the main rotor blade motor, d) a tail boom assembly comprising: (1) a front end that is inserted into the tail boom bore located on the rear section of said housing, a rear end, an upper surface, a lower surface and sides, (2) an LED light circuit, (3) a horizontal stabilizer attached to the upper surface, (4) a vertical stabilizer attached to one of the sides of said tail boom, and (5) a tail rotor motor attached to the rear end of said rail boom wherein the motor has a shaft to which is attached a horizontally oriented rear rotor blade, e) a pair of landing skids, each having a front end and a rear end, wherein each skid is attached to a pair of struts that arc respectively attached to the lower section of said housing, f) a first electronic control circuit located on the platform that extends from the front opening of the housing, said circuit having means for controlling the operation of a receiver circuit, the main rotor blade motor, the tail rotor blade motor and the LED light circuit, g) an impact-resistant front shield that is attached to the front opening of said housing, wherein said shield is dimensioned to cover and protect the elements controlled by said first electronic control circuit, and B. a remote control unit having means for controlling the operation of said RIMH.
 7. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 further having a plurality of air vents located on the upper section, the right side section and the left side section of said housing.
 8. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 further comprising a bushing that extends from the tail boom bore, wherein the bushing is dimensioned to frictionally accept the front end of said tail boom assembly.
 9. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 further comprising a pair of tail boom struts, wherein each strut has a front end attached respectively to the lower section of said housing, and a rear end attached to the respective sides adjacent the horizontal stabilizer.
 10. The RIM as specified in claim 6 wherein the coaxial main rotor blade assembly further comprises: a) a lower blade hub having an upper section, a lower section, a centered main rotor shaft bore, a first end, a second end, and a means for fixedly attaching the lower blade hub to the main rotor shaft, b) a first lower blade having an outer end and an inner end rotatably attached between the upper section and the lower section of the first end of the lower blade hub, c) a second lower blade having an outer end and an inner end rotatably attached between the upper section and the lower section of the second end of the lower blade hub, d) an upper blade hub having an upper section, a lower section, a centered main rotor shaft bore, a first end, a second end and a means for fixedly attaching the upper blade hub to the main rotor shaft, e) a first upper blade having an outer end and an inner end rotatably attached between the upper section and the lower section of the first end of the upper blade hub, and f) a second upper blade having an outer end and an inner end rotatably attached between the upper section and the lower section of the second end of the upper blade hub.
 11. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 further comprising a resilient damper that is inserted into the front end and the rear end of each landing skid.
 12. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein the impact-resistant front shield is made of a resilient plastic.
 13. The RIMH as specified in claim 12 wherein said shield is designed to simulate a pilot's canopy.
 14. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein the LED light circuit is comprised of: a) an LED located on said front shield, and b) a plurality of LEDs connected in a parallel-series configuration along the lower surface of said tail boom assembly.
 15. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein said receiver circuit operates at a frequency of 27.115 Mhz.
 16. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein said receiver circuit is connected to a receiving antenna attached to one of the struts attached to the landing skids.
 17. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein said housing includes a power source comprised of a rechargeable battery having an output ranging from 3 to 5 volts d-c.
 18. The RIMH as specified in claim 17 wherein said power source is controlled by an on-off switch located on one of the side sections of said housing.
 19. The RIMH as specified in claim 6 wherein said remote control unit is further comprised of a second electronic control circuit connected to a power source attached to a power switch, wherein aid circuit controls the transmittal outputs corresponding to direction, throttle, lights and trim. 